Why is low vision rehabilitation needed?

• Persons with low vision often have difficulty using their remaining vision effectively and efficiently to complete meaningful daily activities.
• Even with glasses, they may experience difficulty performing basic activities, including meal preparation, diabetic self-care, medication management, paying bills and shopping.

What is low vision rehabilitation?

Low vision rehabilitation utilizes a team approach where the focus is on maximizing the vision that remains.  The low vision exam maximizes an individual’s functional vision to achieve their stated goals. A low vision eye exam is different than a regular eye exam because it is longer, goal-specific and problem focused. New compensatory strategies, skills and the use of low vision technology are explored to improve quality of life.

How can occupational therapy help?

Occupational therapy focuses on enabling the person with a visual impairment to safely and independently complete the daily living tasks compromised by vision loss. This is accomplished by:

• Teaching the person to use remaining vision as efficiently as possible to complete activities
• Modifying the environment and activities so they can be completed with less vision
• Instructing the person to use the adaptive equipment to compensate for vision loss
• Training is completed in the person’s home and community environment to ensure carryover into the person’s daily activities.

Our low vision specialists work in collaboration to provide low vision rehabilitation at UT Health Lions Low Vision Center of Texas. 

Please call 210-567-8600 for more information or to make an appointment.

Jacqueline Y. Chan, OD, FAAO, is an optometrist specializing in low vision.

Melva Perez Andrews, MBA, OTR, CLVT, is an occupational therapist specializing in low vision.